Duterte tells rebel returnees: Don’t join KMU

DAVAO CITY — As his relationship with the left turned sour, President Rodrigo Duterte told rebel returnees not to join the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), which he described as a group which only disrupts business operations with rallies and strikes.

“Ayaw’g sulod sa KMU, samoksamok lang mo, yawa, mag strike, kinsa’y makakwarta? Di ang leader sa KMU sa membership fees (Do not join the KMU, you will just be disrupting things, the devil. You will go on strike and who will earn money but the KMU leaders themselves from the membership fees), ” Duterte said, referring to the militant labor group that had actively organized unions and fought for workers’ rights and collective bargaining agreements nationwide.

Duterte, who had allied with left-leaning groups in the 2016 election and won the presidency, said even China, which is still being ruled by the Communist Party, had already turned towards capitalism to improve its economy.

“Wala na’y kumunista karun (There are no more communists now),” Duterte told rebel returnees, whom he promised to send to China and Hong Kong to see for themselves that the communists have already turned capitalists.

“The (Chinese) communists have changed their mind because they followed Deng Xiaopeng. Many did not have jobs then, they were willing to work just for food, but look at where they are now,” he said, referring to China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world. /ee

READ: Duterte to send NPA rebels to China, HK to see communism is dead